It seems fair to ask, “God, do You really expect less of me – who has your Holy Spirit within and lives in the wealthiest society in human history – than You demanded of the poorest Israelite?”… The tithe is God's historical method to get us on the path of giving. In that sense, it can serve as a gateway to the joy of grace giving. It is unhealthy to view tithing as a place to stop, but it can be a good place to start… Tithing isn't the ceiling of giving; it's the floor. It's not the finish line of giving; it's just the starting blocks… True, some would be sacrificing more by giving 5% of their income than others would be by tithing or even giving 50 or 90%. Certainly the affluent should never “check off the box,” as if giving 10% automatically fulfills their obligation. The 90% belongs to God, too. He doesn't look at just what we give. He also looks at what we keep… When people tell me they can't afford to tithe, I ask them, “If your income was reduced by 10% would you die?” They say, “No.” And I say, “Then you've admitted that you can afford to tithe. It's just that you don't want to”… I have no problem with people who say “we're not under the tithe,” just as long as they're not using that as justification for giving less. But in my mind the current giving statistics among Christians clearly indicate most of us need a jump-start. If you find a gateway to giving that's better than the tithe, wonderful. But if not, why not start where God started His First Covenant children?
Randy Alcorn

Spurgeon PS1708

Spurgeon PS1708 EXPOSITION. "_Keep me as the apple of the eye_." No part of the body more precious, more tender, and more carefully guarded than the eye; and of the…

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Spurgeon PS1707

Spurgeon PS1707 EXPOSITION. "_Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness_." Marvellous in its antiquity, its distinguishing character, its faithfulness, its immutability, and above all, marvellous in the wonders which it works. That marvellous…

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Spurgeon PS1706

Spurgeon PS1706 EXPOSITION. "_I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God_." Thou hast always heard me, Only Lord, and therefore I have the utmost confidence in…

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Spurgeon PS1705

Spurgeon PS1705 EXPOSITION. Under trial it is not easy to behave ourselves aright; a candle is not easily kept alight when many envious mouths are puffing at it. In evil…

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Spurgeon PS1704

Spurgeon PS1704 EXPOSITION. "_Concerning the works of men_." While we are in the midst of men we shall have their works thrust under our notice, and we shall be compelled…

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Spurgeon PS1703

Spurgeon PS1703 EXPOSITION. "_Thou hast proved mine heart_." Like Peter, David uses the argument, "Thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee." It is a most assuring thing…

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Spurgeon PS1702

Spurgeon PS1702 EXPOSITION. "_Let my sentence come forth from thy presence_." The Psalmist has now grown bold by the strengthening influence of prayer, and he now entreats the Judge of…

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Spurgeon PS1701

Spurgeon PS1701 TITLE AND SUBJECT.--_A Prayer of David_. David would not have been a man after God's own heart, if he had not been a man of prayer. He was…

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Spurgeon PS1611

Spurgeon PS1611 EXPOSITION. "_Thou wilt shew me the path of life_." To Jesus first this way was shown, for he is the first-begotten from the dead, the first-born of every…

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Spurgeon PS1608

Spurgeon PS1608 EXPOSITION. The fear of death at one time cast its dark shadow over the soul of the Redeemer, and we read that "he was heard in that he…

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